Reward sought to
help trace Darren

THE ex-wife of missing man Darren Waller is making a desperate plea to businesses to create a reward fund to help find the father of her children.

Lisa Gleaves wants to create a reward for any information that leads to Darren being found as she feels “helpless” waiting for police to track him down.

But the cash-strapped mum says she needs donations from businesses to make it possible or a venue that would host a fundraising night for free.

She has become increasingly concerned about Darren, 36, as he has not been seen since he vanished on January 9.

Lisa, who split up with Darren 18 months ago after 10 years of marriage, but remained good friends, said: “We have got no further forward. We are into six weeks now and someone out there must know something.

“The police are doing what they can, but they don’t have the heartache of telling the kids each day that you have no answers for them.

“It’s half-term now and they would usually be seeing a lot of their dad. They need to have him back and I want to do everything I can.

“We can’t keep going on like this, we have to feel we are doing something ourselves to find Darren.”

Darren, who is dad to Kayleigh, 16, Ellie, eight, and Leah, five, was last seen at an address in the Rossmere area of Hartlepool at around 5.30pm on Sunday, January 9.

A team of detectives from Hartlepool CID has been chasing possible leads in a bid to trace his whereabouts and most recently searched Crimdon Dene, where Darren is known to have enjoyed spending time.

But so far all reported sightings and searches have led to nothing.

Police also appealed to public transport-users to keep a look out for Darren as he does not have a driving licence.

Lisa, of Kells Grove, Hartlepool, said: “If anyone can help us raise a fund as a reward, such as local businesses and organisations, I would be very grateful, as will the kids.

“My idea is to put the money up as a reward for information that leads to Darren being found. It’s all I can think of to help and get the kids their dad back.”

Darren, who lived in a flat in Alma Street, Hartlepool, was last seen wearing a light blue sweater with dark stripes across the chest, dark blue jeans, white trainers and with an earring in his left ear.

He is described as 5ft 8ins-tall, white, with a shaved head and tattoos on his hands and arms.

nyone who wants to help Lisa can do so by leaving a message on a facebook page dedicated to finding Darren.

It can be found by entering “Darren Waller missing” into the site’s search function.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cleveland Police on (01642) 326326.